From Atlanta airport floor to the Smoky Mountains: 10 days on the Appalachian Trail

A guest post by The Ambassador, a Swedish traveller walking all 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2026. This is part one of a ten-part series following the whole hike from Georgia to Maine. Watch the vlog below, then read on for the full story.

Day 0: Atlanta airport

I made it to the US. Finally. I flew via England and Orlando and arrived in Atlanta in the middle of the night. Very tired. Very excited. I found a quiet corner in the airport, rolled out my mat and slept a few hours. That is how this adventure started.

The next morning I took the tram into the city and went straight to REI. I needed tent stakes (you cannot bring those on a plane) and a water filter. I also found my shoes there: Hokas from REI. I had a good feeling about them.

Then I needed to hitchhike out of the city. It took hours. The first car that stopped drove me straight into a gun store. Welcome to America. But people are nice, people will pick you up, and eventually a sweet couple took me all the way to the trailhead. They even stopped at a viewpoint to show me the views. That is Doug. Amazing guy. Thank you, Doug.

If you want a proper bed the night before you start, the Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge is the classic option. Most thru-hikers spend their last night there. I slept in the shelter by the arch. Free and perfectly fine.

A person wearing a cap, backpack, and athletic clothes stands with arms outstretched near a roadside, with trees and power lines in the background. — Hitchhiking to the Appalachian trail start

Day 1: the stone gate and Springer Mountain

Day one started in the rain. I had a good night of sleep in the shelter and went to the visitor centre at Amicalola Falls. And then I walked through the legendary stone gate that marks the start of the AT. Wow. That was a little moment. I met a father and his daughter going through it at the same time.

The approach trail leads up to Springer Mountain, which is the official start of the whole hike. There I met Hazmat, another thru-hiker, and together we found the logbook hidden under a rock. We got it out, we signed it. I signed it with my trail name: The Ambassador. And underneath: Don't count the miles, count the smiles.

We hiked together for a few hours. The shelters were full of people because of the rain. Somebody even tried to make a fire but that was not easy in this weather. I pitched my tent and called it a night. I was so happy to be here.

Stone archway entrance to a forest trail at Amicalola Falls State Park, with signs indicating the start of the Appalachian Trail Approach and distances to various trail points.

Day 2: Blood Mountain and the hiker box

First night in the tent. It rained heavily. It didn't leak. Let's go.

I got up to Blood Mountain, the highest point in Georgia, and then came down to Neel's Gap, 39 miles in. And that is where I found my first hiker box.

A hiker box is a box where hikers leave things they no longer need: food, gear, anything. At Neel's Gap I found two days of resupply food and a lighter. For free. Yeah. I was immediately a big fan of hiker boxes.

Day 3: rain, three bears, and a hitchhike into town

It was raining cats and dogs the whole morning. The whole trail was flooded, not fun. I started at 7:30 and could not see any views. Just the trail markers. I made it to a shelter and tried to dry my things. It was cold and wet so it didn't help much.

And then the sky cleared. Blue skies, just like that. And then: my first bear encounter. Wow. Pretty exciting. I actually saw another couple of bears after that. So yeah, three bears in one afternoon. That was very exciting. To actually get to see them out there like that.

That evening I hitchhiked into town. A cool guy and his daughter picked me up.

Day 4: Helen and the $0 riverside inn

Helen is a little Bavarian-themed town about 10 miles from the trail. Perfect for a resupply. I needed to charge my devices and get some food.

I ended up at Big Daddy's in the evening and then around the corner I found a picnic area with a roof, right next to the river. So I rolled out my mat between the picnic tables and that was my accommodation for the night. Zero dollars. My only neighbour was a little frog. Hello.

The next morning I went to the Hudler House for some delicious American breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. Yeah. A random stranger also came up and gave me his rain jacket. Just like that. God bless Helen.

If you want an actual bed in Helen rather than a picnic table: it's a small town with hotels and cabin rentals along the river. Most hikers stay one night, do laundry, eat too much, and hitch back to the trail in the morning.

Day 5: into North Carolina

My socks were still wet. They had been wet for four straight days at this point. But the weather looked way better and the trail looked beautiful. I passed a notice board about the people's footpath, very interesting. And then: the state line. North Carolina.

So we're going from Georgia into North Carolina. Pretty exciting. North Carolina felt just like Georgia, to be honest. I couldn't tell the difference, except for a few weird trees. The heat was picking up though and I was very tired by the end of the day. I found a shelter with another thru-hiker, Tinker. Just the two of us. I slept very well.

A person in outdoor clothing stands in the doorway of a wooden cabin, adjusting their hat. A backpack and information board are visible nearby.

Day 6: Franklin and 120 miles

Sore throat today. But I got up really early, packed my bag and said goodbye to Tinker in the dark. It was a misty morning but at least no rain. The mist got thicker and I started walking a little bit faster.

And then the views came back. Beautiful rolling green hills. I climbed up to a watchtower and yeah, it was quite beautiful up there. I could probably see my house from there.

Then I hitched into Franklin for a resupply. A guy picked me up who was living in his car. Very interesting, just like me. He also gave me a ride back to the trail afterwards. Very friendly fella, thank you.

I did a little bit of night hiking to get back to the closest campsite. Not ideal, but I pitched my tent in the dark and checked my total: 120 miles. Very good.

Franklin is a proper trail town. There are hiker hostels, a gear outfitter and a grocery store. Everything you need to sort yourself out for the next stretch. Hilltop Inn is the budget-friendly hiker option, around $60 a night.

Day 7: one week on trail

One week. It feels surreal, but here I am, still smiling. I have done about 20 miles per day on average so far, which is pretty good as a start. We'll see if I can keep up with that.

A man with a gray scarf around his neck pours water from a plastic bottle over his head in a forested area, cooling off in the shade.

Days 8-9: serious heat and Fontana Dam

We have hit some really, really hot weather. Probably mid-80s, close to 90s, and the first very humid day. And that morning I found a sun hoodie in a hiker box, so I swapped my white shirt for it. The fabric breathes way better and it was cleaner. Very good find, especially on a day like this.

I did about 25 miles that day. Day 9 I was at 165 miles and heading for the Smokies. That night at Fontana Dam shelter, apparently one of the bigger shelters on the trail. And yeah, another bear, close by. Too slow with the camera again. But wow.

Four days of wet feet followed by days of serious heat is quite an experience. This guide to trail hygiene covers what actually helps.

Day 10: the Great Smoky Mountains and 200 miles

Believe it or not. Day 10. And I have reached the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So that's where I am right now. And I have done 200 miles. I have only another 2,000 to go.

The park is something else. There are cables at every shelter for hanging your food so bears cannot get to it. Wildlife everywhere from the first steps. It feels wilder and more serious than Georgia.

I had lunch in one of the shelters and met Snakebite. He is 69 years old. He is thru-hiking the entire AT. And today is his birthday. Wow. That's cool. That told me everything I needed to know about this trail and the people on it.

20 miles that day. Double Spring Gap Shelter for the night. Six or seven of us in there. And we ended everything with a little fire. Mama Deer came by to say goodnight. Pretty good day.

A hiker moving fast down a muddy Appalachian Trail section with exposed roots and brown earth

Watch my vlog from day 1 to 10 on the Appalachian Trail.

What to know before you start

Navigation: Get FarOut Guides for the AT. This is the navigation app everyone uses on trail. The Springer approach trail guide is free so you can check it out.
Tent stakes: You cannot fly with them. Buy them at REI in Atlanta when you arrive.
Resupply towns: Helen (around days 3-4) and Franklin (around day 6) are both solid. Helen has more character, Franklin is more practical.
Hiker boxes: Check every single one you pass. I found food, a sun hoodie, tent stakes and a lighter in Georgia alone. For free.
Bears: You will see them. Not maybe. You will. Hang your food every night or carry a bear canister.
Wet feet: If it rains in Georgia (it will), your feet will be wet for days. Accept it early.